Volunteer

Aspen, CO: Imagine a cross between a frat party and a Phish concert. Now drop that scene onto a high alpine basin with a small hot springs pool and you’ve got an idea of the trouble that was facing Conundrum Hot Springs until recently. Trash, discarded clothing, exposed piles of human waste (yup, poop), loud groups and music playing on speakers, vegetation damage from trampling and firewood gathering, human-wildlife conflicts, and safety risks to unprepared hikers marred the wilderness character of this otherwise idyllic spot high in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness...

The Center would like recognize and thank two long time, former State Advocates for their commitment and dedication to the Leave No Trace program and promotion of responsible recreation. Without the efforts of these two volunteers the Leave No Trace would not have the success it does in Minnesota or Alabama! Rita Hussman, Minnesota Rita Hussman has led the charge of the Leave No Trace movement in Minnesota for over seven years. She played an integral role in the development of the Leave No Trace Minnesota Chapter, one of the Center’s first two state...

Page, AZ : So it's February. You've had a month to settle in to your New Year's Resolutions - and while they could be going great, some of us have inevitably done a bit of backsliding over the last month. Life has a way of getting in the way, and when you don't have the time you hoped you'd have, it's easiest to let the new things slide. It can be hard to feel unable to do as well as you'd like to at a new habit, whatever you're trying to do. But we're going to let you in on a little secret that's helped us out a lot: You don't have to be perfect. It's so...

Pensacola Beach, FL : January gave us the opportunity to be on the beach for a while, and we've discovered that the beach in winter is one of our favorite places to be. While we traded in our bathing suits and sandals for puffy coats and trail runners, by making sure to Plan Ahead and Prepare , we were able to go at a time when we had the beaches mostly to ourselves. As our favorite activity is beachcombing - examining everything that's been washed ashore - we thought we'd show off some beachcombing Leave No Trace style, that can be practiced no...

Wytheville, VA: There's a fair amount of indoor climbing in central Ohio - but what about outdoor climbing? The dolemite cliffs along the Mad River just outside of Springfield have been an illicit climbing spot for the last two decades, but they are illicit no more. About 40 acres on the south side of the river have been turned into the Mad River Gorge and Nature Preserve, and the Clark County Parks District has plans to add about 60 acres to the property. Team East Central recently conducted a Hot Spot in the area, and found a budding community of climbers, locals, and land...

Baraboo, WI: Michigan's Keweenaw peninsula is an outdoorsperson's paradise. With year-round opportunities for hiking, mountain biking, paddling, and rapelling within two hours' drive, everyone's bound to find something to do. But certain spots are more well-known - and overly well-loved - than others. Hungarian Falls, just east of Hancock, is one such place, where a 2017 Leave No Trace Hot Spot was held in support of the Upper Falls. The community came together in support of the land when they helped the Keweenaw Land Trust acquire the Upper Falls in 2013; they came together...

New Paltz, NY: The Peekamoose Blue Hole has become an Internet celebrity. Now selected, as a 2017 Leave No Trace Hot Spot , the Blue Hole needs a new type of fame, one that recognizes its fragile ecology. This geologic formation is wild in nature and unfortunately; its fame has exponentially increased the number of visitors and the impacts, which follow them. With anywhere from 600-2000 visitors in a weekend the ¾ acre footprint of the Blue Hole has seen its fair share of impacts. Soil erosion, trampled vegetation (including small plants, flowers, and primarily mosses),...

Boulder, CO: The member-driven Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics protects the outdoors by teaching people to enjoy it responsibly. It is the most widely accepted outdoor ethics program used on public lands. Through targeted education, research and outreach, the Center ensures the long-term health of our natural world. One way we reach the public is through the creative freedom of our Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainers. The Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainer program consists of four teams of two educators that travel across the country in Subarus teaching people how to...

Peach Tree City, GA : Have you ever heard of a town that commutes by Golf Cart? This is a reality in Fayette County, Georgia where residents have access to over 90 miles of multi-use Greenways. Walkers, runners, cyclists, and even riders of golf carts utilize these paths every day of the year to get around town and to access the counties green spaces. These nature areas of Fayette County are the focus of a 2016 Leave No Trace Hot Spot. For one full week the Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainers worked hand-in-hand with the Southern Conservation Trust , who manages the green spaces in...

Lopez Island, WA: San Juan County is the first Leave No Trace county in the nation. This designation came about because of a dedicated and passionate group of locals, who wanted to protect and steward these special islands they call home. Today, different agencies, organizations, citizens, businesses, and local leaders have committed to integrating Leave No Trace into every aspect of the islands. Their hope is to educate and inspire the one million annual visitors to Leave No Trace during their next visit. Here are a few steps you can take to help Leave No Trace next time you are on the San...